(qlmbusinessnews.com . Sun 17th Aug, 2025) London, UK —
From Fjords to Tropics: Exploring the Booming Market of Private Island Sales
For the past fifty years, Farhad Vladi has reigned supreme in the niche yet intriguing world of private island sales. Since his first venture in 1971, handing over Cousine Island in the Seychelles – a gem within the Indian Ocean, now a beacon for ecotourism – Vladi has successfully marketed over 2,000 islands to eager buyers.
However, the dream of living a Robinson Crusoe fantasy has seen a shift in the last half-decade, according to Vladi. A significant trend towards purchasing islands within safer, more accessible locales closer to home has emerged. “Areas such as Scandinavia, Ireland, the French Atlantic coast, and the Venetian lagoon,” he notes, have surged in popularity for their safety, accessibility, and well-regarded status.
“Political stability is a magnet for buyers,” Vladi comments. Those seeking isolation or a return to nature predominantly make up the clientele, with recent British acquisitions focusing on the tranquil realms of Canada, Australia, and New Zealand – each perceived as a secure haven. “For a Brit, the appeal of a Commonwealth region is often its perceived stability,” suggests Vladi.
On offer for just shy of a million pounds, Shore Island emerges as a highlight within Vladi Private Islands' portfolio. Encompassing 30 hectares and boasting exceptional salmon fishing, its proximity to Shannon Airport, just three miles away, adds to its allure.
Canada, too, has risen as a bastion of safety in times of global uncertainty. The country's east coast islands, once undervalued, are now being snapped up rapidly. Hartlings Island in Nova Scotia, available for a modest £150,000, offers a new owner the company of visiting sea lions, a deer population, five miles of hiking trails, and a cosy 400 sq ft dwelling, with conveniences such as a fishing harbour and post office on the mainland close by.
Ireland and Canada may not mimic the luxuriant appeal of Sir Richard Branson's Necker Island, but, as Vladi points out, “purchasing an island is more for a brief holiday retreat than a permanent dwelling.”
Indeed, even Sir Richard Branson does not inhabit Necker Island year-round. Vladi suggests, “For those seeking a hermit's life, year-round favourable climates found in locales like Fiji and French Polynesia might be more appealing.”
The advent of Elon Musk's Starlink has revolutionized the connectivity of remote islands to the global grid, expanding the market beyond the previously typical secluded villain lair. For a monthly fee of £80, new owners can experience remote work with the added perk of freshly caught lobster dinners.
Chris Krolow, CEO of Private Islands Inc. and another key figure in the island sales arena, shares, “Communication used to be a major barrier. That's hardly the case now, thanks to Starlink.”
This connectivity has revitalized interest in previously overlooked islands, thereby propelling their popularity and market value. “Prices are steadily climbing by around 10% annually,” Vladi notes.
Moreover, stricter building regulations have influenced pricing. “Where I'm situated [in Canada], you once could build on a one-acre island. That's no longer feasible,” Krolow explains, advising potential buyers about the advantages of pre-developed islands.
Yet, quantifying the value of these paradise retreats, particularly those painstakingly developed by their owners, poses a challenge, according to Krolow. The rarity of island sales means discerning clear market trends is difficult, pushing buyers towards more affordable regions like Honduras as Caribbean hotspots like Belize see a spike in demand.
In a twist, some Caribbean nations have introduced “golden visa” residency programs, though few possess islands on the market, Krolow adds.
The option of renting out one's island, much like Sir Richard Branson, presents a financial offset to ownership costs. “There's been a notable uptick in buyers interested in the rental potential of islands,” Krolow concludes, reflecting on the evolving nature of island purchases post-Covid.
Servicing these island getaways ensures a hassle-free retreat for owners, an aspect Andy Jackson, a Londoner and the general manager of the Isle of Carna for two decades, knows well. Occupying a spot in Loch Sunart, a three-hour journey from Glasgow Airport, Carna with its rich wildlife and untouched landscape, draws a varied clientele from scuba divers to families seeking adventure.
While Carna's owners remain uninterested in selling, those intrigued by island life have numerous Scottish islands to consider, with Torsa Island, listed by Savills for over £1.5m, providing a historic farmhouse as part of the deal.
“Island transactions are infrequent but generate significant interest,” states Luke French, a property agent. However, he cautions, the island life, removed from urban hustle, may not suit everyone.
Yet, for those enticed by the prospect, and with deep enough pockets, the dream of island ownership remains alive, offering an escape into tranquillity or an investment into a unique lifestyle that's increasingly capable of bringing in its own return.
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